A Martin That's Built to Go Places
Some guitars live in the studio. The Martin GPC-X2E Ziricote is one you actually take with you. Part of Martin's remastered 2024 X Series, this cutaway acoustic-electric is designed to handle the realities of regular playing — and it does so while looking genuinely striking. The ziricote-patterned HPL back and sides give it an exotic, eye-catching grain that turns heads without adding fragility. This is a guitar that shrugs off humidity swings and temperature changes that would have a solid-wood instrument needing attention.
The Grand Performance body shape is Martin's answer to players who want something slightly more comfortable than a full dreadnought but still want strong projection and a full low end. Add the single-cutaway body, and you've got clean access all the way up the fretboard — something you'll appreciate the moment you want to explore the upper register.
Whether you're playing a coffeehouse set, practicing at home, or plugging in at an open mic, the GPC-X2E Ziricote covers all of it without requiring you to treat it like a museum piece.
Solid Sapele Top, Ziricote HPL Back and Sides
The top here is solid sapele, hand-rubbed to a satin finish. Compared to spruce, sapele brings a slightly warmer character with pronounced fundamentals and focused midrange. It rewards both strummers and fingerpickers, and the satin finish keeps it feeling natural and responsive under your picking hand.
The back and sides are ziricote-patterned high-pressure laminate (HPL). HPL is a layered engineered material — it's not solid wood, and Martin doesn't pretend otherwise. What it does offer is exceptional resistance to environmental changes, making this guitar far less fussy about conditions than a comparable all-solid instrument. The ziricote pattern printed onto the HPL is genuinely beautiful, with complex dark grain that looks like the real thing at a glance.
Bracing follows Martin's scalloped X-brace pattern with spruce brace material — the same approach Martin has used on guitars far up the price ladder. It helps the top move freely and contributes to that balanced, projective tone the Grand Performance shape is known for.
A Neck Built for Comfort and Speed
The neck profile is Martin's High-Performance Taper (PA Profile) — a modern slim-taper shape that sits comfortably in the hand whether you're fretting open chords or running single-note lines. The fingerboard is select hardwood with a 16" radius, which is flat enough to feel familiar to players who've spent time on electric guitars.
Nut width comes in at 1-3/4" — a touch narrower than traditional Martin necks — with a 25.4" scale length. The fingerboard edges are gently beveled for comfort, and the frets are low-profile vintage style. String spacing at the bridge is 2-5/32". The result is a neck that's easy to settle into from the first session, without the "breaking in" period some players expect from a new acoustic.
The bridge is a sloped modern belly contour in select hardwood, with a White TUSQ saddle set at a 16" radius to match the fingerboard. Faux tortoise pickguard rounds out the look.
Martin E-1 Electronics — Plug In and Go
The onboard Martin E-1 system handles amplified duties. It includes a built-in chromatic tuner along with volume, tone, and phase controls — straightforward and easy to dial in whether you're doing a quick soundcheck or adjusting on the fly mid-set. There's no hunting around for controls; everything you need is right there on the upper bout.
The E-1 replaced the Fishman electronics used on earlier X Series models, and it integrates cleanly with the guitar's overall design. For players who perform regularly, having a reliable, built-in tuner is one of those features that seems small until you actually need it mid-gig.
Product Features:
-
Top: Solid sapele, hand-rubbed satin finish
-
Back & Sides: Ziricote-patterned high-pressure laminate (HPL), satin finish
-
Body Shape: Grand Performance (GPC) cutaway, 14-fret
-
Bracing: Scalloped X-brace, spruce brace material
-
Scale Length: 25.4"
-
Nut Width: 1-3/4"
-
Neck: Select hardwood, High-Performance Taper (PA Profile)
-
Fingerboard: Select hardwood, 16" radius, beveled comfort edge
-
Bridge: Select hardwood, sloped modern belly contour; White TUSQ saddle
-
Rosette: Single ring abalone pattern
-
Electronics: Martin E-1 with built-in chromatic tuner, volume, tone, and phase controls
-
Pickguard: Faux tortoise
Brand: Martin
Model: GPC-X2E Ziricote
SKU: 11GPCX2EZIR
Condition: New
Since 1872, C.A. House Music has been helping musicians across the Ohio Valley find the right gear -- with real advice from a team that actually plays. We're your authorized dealer of all the big names in guitars, keyboards, band instruments, drums, pro audio, and more. With four family-owned and operated locations in Ohio and West Virginia (plus a full online store), you don't have to go far for instruments, lessons, rentals, and repairs. No matter your musical needs, our team of musicians wants to help you Play Music for Life.
